Medicine is serious business in more ways than one. There are many reasons people require prescription medication. Medication can be needed to get well and to stay well. Often, individuals don’t take medication because they are sick, but because they have an ongoing condition that benefits from daily medication.
Sacramento medication errors occur far too often, putting people’s health and lives at risk. If you or a loved one has suffered because of a medication error, contact an experienced attorney at the law firm of Teal and Montgomery today by calling 916-448-1010 or by contacting us online.
Medication for Health and Well-being
Some conditions that may require ongoing medication for a person to stay well are:
- Chronic pain
- Chronic fatigue
- Psychological issues
- Birth Control
- High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes
- Allergies
- Asthma
Medication for Illness
Some medications are not required long term but are needed to treat periodic acute illness, such as:
- Antibiotics
- Pain medication following surgery, injury or illness
- Prescription nausea medication during pregnancy
- Prescription anti-acids during pregnancy
- And many more
Medications for Surgery and Procedures
Anesthesia is a method of controlling pain during a surgery or procedure by using medicine called anesthetics. It can assist in managing your breathing, blood pressure, blood flow, and heart rate and rhythm.
Anesthesia is often used to:
- Relax patients
- Block sensations of pain
- Cause drowsiness or forgetfulness.
- Cause you to be unconscious for your surgery.
There may be other medications used in addition to anesthesia, such as those that help you relax or to reverse the effects of anesthesia.
Sacramento Medication Errors
Mixed-up prescriptions, incorrect dosages of medication, drugs of the wrong potency or unmonitored drug interactions all illustrate medication errors. Patients can endure serious injuries and long term harm because a doctor, a pharmacist, a nurse, an anesthesiologist or a dentist neglected to follow established standards of care when prescribing or administering medications.
Responsibilities of Physicians Prescribing or Administering Medications
The most important responsibility of any physician is to do no harm. Unfortunately, harm is exactly what happens when medication errors occur. Some of the many responsibilities of physicians when it comes to medications are:
- A doctor should screen for possible allergies or dangerous interactions with other medications you are taking at the same time, when they prescribe a new drug.
- A pharmacist should have safety and quality control practices in place to prevent the unfortunate possibility of delivering the wrong medication or the wrong dosage to a customer.
- A nurse in a hospital or nursing home should not take narcotic medications intended for a patient’s use — a serious offense, which, unfortunately, does happen from time to time.
- An anesthetist should stay alert and vigilant while a patient is sedated for surgery.
After a Drug Overdose Resulting From a Sacramento Medication Error, Attorney Counsel Is Strongly Recommended
The facts of your case may be complex and difficult to prove without a detailed investigation. If you suspect that your turn for the worse is because of medication that you took, or that was administered during surgery in the area of Sacramento or Santa Rosa, a medical error attorney from Teal & Montgomery can offer help and advice. If a review of the known facts indicates that a more detailed investigation is called for, we can offer advice and help get that investigation underway. If we uncover evidence of a medication error, we are prepared to represent you and help you pursue the compensation you need to pay for medical care, lost wages and more.
Contact Our California Prescription Error Attorney
We welcome you to contact us or call 916-448-1010 to schedule a free initial consultation at your convenience.